The Australian Self-Medication Industry (ASMI), the industry
body representing non-prescription consumer healthcare products
today welcomed the announcement of plans for a renewed examination
of a joint Australia-New Zealand medicines agency.

Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and New Zealand's
Prime Minister, John Key, announced a five-year staged plan which
will see Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration and New
Zealand's Medsafe work together in areas of common interest, and
develop a single regulatory framework - with the intention of
becoming a joint agency in the future.

The Executive Director of ASMI, Dr Deon Schoombie said the
proposal to join the two regulatory agencies represents a major
step towards building a world-class regulatory system.

"Harmonising regulatory arrangements for therapeutic products
between Australia and New Zealand has the potential to streamline
procedures and also bring a more contemporary approach to
regulation in each country," said Dr Schoombie.

"The move towards a single agency is a positive step for the
medicines industry, and will provide consistency for manufacturers
in areas of licensing, packaging, and advertising of therapeutic
products, including those sold over-the-counter (OTC).
However Dr Schoombie warns that combining the two regulatory bodies
will not be without some challenges.

"No one should underestimate the difficulties that this exercise
presents. But the industry stands ready to assist in bringing about
meaningful reform which will significantly benefit the communities
of both countries.

"The OTC medicines sector was very supportive of earlier
attempts to establish the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic
Products Authority (ANZTPA), which ultimately foundered following a
break-down of negotiations between Australia and New Zealand.
"It's to be hoped that some of the lessons from earlier experiences
have been absorbed, and will allow the two governments and their
parliaments to overcome some of the differences that derailed
previous attempts."

He said the exclusion of complementary medicines (CMs) from the
five-year implementation plan was disappointing. However he hopes
that once the agency is established and in operation, that CMs will
be included in the joint regulatory arrangements.

"We hope that in time, the new joint agency will oversee the
regulatory arrangements for the whole therapeutic goods industry
including complementary medicines" said Dr Schoombie.
__________________________________________________________________About ASMI: The Australian Self-Medication
Industry (ASMI) is the peak industry body for the Australian self
care industry representing consumer healthcare products including
over-the-counter medicines and complementary medicines. ASMI's
mission is to promote better health through responsible self-care.
This means ensuring that safe and effective self-care products are
readily available to all Australians at a reasonable cost. ASMI
works to encourage responsible use by consumers and an increasing
role for cost-effective self-medication products as part of the
broad national health strategy. www.asmi.com.au